Work has been kicking my ass lately and I'm not complaining. I need the work. So, it's been eat, sleep, work, run, repeat and I am once again behind on blogging.
After a FAST 3000 on Jan1, I ran a VERY VERY icy 2 mile on Jan 4th. I won, but was not gunning for time. Even in the Icebugs, the course was a mess and I had to watch it. It was entirely on bare ice. They have a kiddie kilometer before our race and almost all the kids fell over at the start then got up to run! It was a tad wee bit slick!
Next up was the Christmas run -15k in Yegorevsk. This involved getting up long before the buttcrack of dawn and taking the train 2 hours out to the start. I almost rolled over and went back to bed when the alarm went off at 5:40!!! YUK! I rode the train out there in the darkness since it's dark in these parts til 10AM that time of year. When I got there, Polina was on the train but in the next car and we didn't even know because I had gotten on further up the line since the train stops not far from my house. Anyhow, the 15k was actually longer and the surface.....ooshy snow with ice underneath. It was just above freezing and we may as well have run on sand!!! Before the start, the priest gave us a Christmas blessing. Polina took off with Irina. Irina, is a top ranked skier and runner. I just sat back and decided to play is smart since the surface today was killer. At about halfway, I moved up and passed both ladies for the lead. Soon after with about 3k to go, a new runner form Yegorevsk picked it up and caught me. Normally, I could respond, but I really couldn't drop the pace any further as the cumulative effects of having done FOUR races in NINE days had finally caught up with me. They do awards here strictly by category with the cutoff being 34 and under and 35+. I was 2nd overall and won the category. Organization here was super. There was a hot shower and sauna after as well ad a nice banquet. I would do another race here if it fits my schedule this year. If not for the Moscow Masters Championships the 22-23rd Feb., I would do their marathon as a long run or their half as a tempo run that they have on the 22nd. I so wish it had been a week earlier. They have a 15k in May over the holidays that might be a possibility. Their summer marathon is late July, which HAD 100K WC NOT BEEN CANCELLED may have been my final long run before said 100k. Ah well, we will just have to play the schedule by ear again this year.
http://www.klb-meshera.ru/novosti/rozhdestenskij-probeg.html
On the 18th, I replaced my Friday short speed workout with a 3000. This was fun. The only kicker is that at the Bauman Institute, the banked turns are just a beyotch! I won just doing this one as a workout. I miss the track and need it to keep my speed sharp because it does carry over into the longer distances. I started out ok only to take a big freaking nap in the 2nd km to the tune of about 10-12 sec then bust out a 3.40 final km. The banked turns on this track really slow things down and just kill my lower legs. This is a place for a good workout but not to go for a blazing fast time. I was 18 sec off my NY time. Ugh.
rockin' the hearts :
On the 25th there was the indoor mile. I still have no pix from this one. In short, time was better, but finished a close second. I am still leading the series, but the final has been kicked all the way to March 16th because the track is booked busy til then. On the up side, I'll get to run the 3000 at the Moscow Masters Champs the 23rd of Feb. since the mile would typically have been that last weekend of the month.
After a FAST 3000 on Jan1, I ran a VERY VERY icy 2 mile on Jan 4th. I won, but was not gunning for time. Even in the Icebugs, the course was a mess and I had to watch it. It was entirely on bare ice. They have a kiddie kilometer before our race and almost all the kids fell over at the start then got up to run! It was a tad wee bit slick!
Have an ICE Day!
Next up was the Christmas run -15k in Yegorevsk. This involved getting up long before the buttcrack of dawn and taking the train 2 hours out to the start. I almost rolled over and went back to bed when the alarm went off at 5:40!!! YUK! I rode the train out there in the darkness since it's dark in these parts til 10AM that time of year. When I got there, Polina was on the train but in the next car and we didn't even know because I had gotten on further up the line since the train stops not far from my house. Anyhow, the 15k was actually longer and the surface.....ooshy snow with ice underneath. It was just above freezing and we may as well have run on sand!!! Before the start, the priest gave us a Christmas blessing. Polina took off with Irina. Irina, is a top ranked skier and runner. I just sat back and decided to play is smart since the surface today was killer. At about halfway, I moved up and passed both ladies for the lead. Soon after with about 3k to go, a new runner form Yegorevsk picked it up and caught me. Normally, I could respond, but I really couldn't drop the pace any further as the cumulative effects of having done FOUR races in NINE days had finally caught up with me. They do awards here strictly by category with the cutoff being 34 and under and 35+. I was 2nd overall and won the category. Organization here was super. There was a hot shower and sauna after as well ad a nice banquet. I would do another race here if it fits my schedule this year. If not for the Moscow Masters Championships the 22-23rd Feb., I would do their marathon as a long run or their half as a tempo run that they have on the 22nd. I so wish it had been a week earlier. They have a 15k in May over the holidays that might be a possibility. Their summer marathon is late July, which HAD 100K WC NOT BEEN CANCELLED may have been my final long run before said 100k. Ah well, we will just have to play the schedule by ear again this year.
http://www.klb-meshera.ru/novosti/rozhdestenskij-probeg.html
On the 18th, I replaced my Friday short speed workout with a 3000. This was fun. The only kicker is that at the Bauman Institute, the banked turns are just a beyotch! I won just doing this one as a workout. I miss the track and need it to keep my speed sharp because it does carry over into the longer distances. I started out ok only to take a big freaking nap in the 2nd km to the tune of about 10-12 sec then bust out a 3.40 final km. The banked turns on this track really slow things down and just kill my lower legs. This is a place for a good workout but not to go for a blazing fast time. I was 18 sec off my NY time. Ugh.
rockin' the hearts :
starting out smart and controlled
awards
and the chicking of guys begins
ISO next victim up ahead
ran the part of the 2nd km with Masha- didn't want to pass too soonbecause I know she's FAST
still pretty early on
On the 25th there was the indoor mile. I still have no pix from this one. In short, time was better, but finished a close second. I am still leading the series, but the final has been kicked all the way to March 16th because the track is booked busy til then. On the up side, I'll get to run the 3000 at the Moscow Masters Champs the 23rd of Feb. since the mile would typically have been that last weekend of the month.
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